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Port Adelaide have ground their way to a hard-fought 14-point win over Carlton to keep themselves well and truly in the top four race.
Port Adelaide have fought back from 31 points down to pull off a crucial comeback 14-point win over Carlton and leap into third on the AFL ladder.
Ken Hinkley's charges were almost left to rue a failure to seize their opportunity as a run of six unanswered Carlton goals in the second term put the Blues firmly in control.
But the Power fought back in style, as Carlton faded off a five-day break, to claim a gritty 11.13 (79) to 9.11 (65) victory at Marvel Stadium on Friday night.
Port Adelaide (48 points) sit behind the second-placed Blues on percentage alone after this boost to their top-four hopes.
The chasing pack of Brisbane, Fremantle (both 46 points), GWS and Geelong (44 points) are yet to play this weekend.
Carlton, already without injured duo Tom De Koning and Blake Acres, suffered a blow before the opening bounce when key forward Harry McKay withdrew with illness.
McKay had been a focus during the week, having been cleared of concussion after a head knock against North Melbourne, but with the Blues reprimanded by the AFL for their delay in taking him off the ground.
His late withdrawal on Friday left Curnow as Carlton's lone key forward, and the superstar had an engaging duel with Aliir Aliir.
Curnow kicked three goals in the first half as he threatened to break the game open but, like many of his team-mates, his influenced waned in in the second half.
Ollie Wines (26 disposals and 10 clearances) and Connor Rozee (24 disposals) were busy while Zak Butters (23 touches) was blanketed by Alex Cincotta early but lifted along with Jason Horne-Francis.
Sam Walsh (23 touches), Patrick Cripps (25 touches, nine tackles) and Elijah Hollands (20 disposals) were prolific for the Blues while Jacob Weitering kept Charlie Dixon quiet.
Curnow drew first blood but Carlton otherwise spurned some good early chances, while luckless midfielder David Cuningham was forced out of the game with a dislocated shoulder.
Esava Ratugolea and Mitch Georgiades struck to give Port Adelaide a four-point lead at quarter-time.
But after the break, the Blues wrenched the game in their favour.
Lewis Young's goal from a free kick five minutes into the second term kicked off a run of six unanswered majors that delivered a 25-point lead at half-time.
Port huffed and puffed in the third term, snagging two late goals to reduce the deficit to 10 points at the final change.
In the final term, Ratugolea and then Jackson Mead struck to give the visitors a slender lead.
Horne-Francis goaled from just inside 50 to all but ice the game, before a late Darcy Byrne-Jones toe-poke sealed the deal.
Port next host Sydney while Carlton play Collingwood.
